Sweet Country wins Special Jury Prize at Venice Film Festival

We don’t usually report on international film festivals, but this one’s certainly worth a mention.

Warwick Thornton’s Sweet Country has won the Special Jury Prize at the 2017 Venice Film Festival.

Following its world premiere screening at the festival, Sweet Country received a standing ovation and has garnered outstanding international critical reviews. The film has also won the Premio Bisato d’Oro award, the Venice Critic’s award for Best Film.

Directed by Thornton, recipient of the Camera d’Or at the 2009 Cannes Film Festival for his debut feature Samson and Delilah, the period western is a stunning cinematic vision and soundscape set in the desert of the magnificent MacDonnell Ranges around Alice Springs in central Australia.

“To have worked with our close friends David Tranter, Steven McGregor and Warwick Thornton on this film has been a joy, said Bunya Productions’ and Sweet Country producer Greer Simpkin. “To have this potent story about our country’s history shared and honoured internationally is both humbling and empowering.”

Sweet Country premieres in Australia on 7 October 2017 at the Adelaide Film Festival, with tickets now on sale. Sweet Country will release nationally in Australia in 2018.